Why people in Japan hardly ever say “sayonara,” and what they say instead

Sayonara, a widely known Japanese word, isn't often heard in Japan. Contrary to the popular belief, saying goodbye in Japan doesn't always require uttering the word sayonara. In fact, there are multiple phrases that people use in everyday situations instead of saying sayonara, such as ja, mata, dewa, sore ja, and osaki ni.

Ja is a shortened version of phrases like "if it's like that" or "well then," and is a common way to say goodbye among friends or peers in social situations. Mata, another abbreviation, can be found at the end of phrases like "let's get together again" or "see you tomorrow." Dewa, a more formal alternative to ja, also takes the place of sayonara in many situations.

In addition to these common phrases, there are a couple of other expressions that don't translate literally as "goodbye" but are frequently used in place of it. One such phrase is otsukarasama desu, which is commonly used between coworkers at the end of the day, while osaki ni shitsurei shimasu is used when leaving before others who are still working.

Despite knowing all this, sayonara carries a significant emotional weight that makes it unsuitable for casual interactions. Sayonara is most often used for significant partings, such as at a graduation or when someone quits their job permanently. For example, when workers at Cold Stone in Kamakura, the last branch of the chain in east Japan, said "sayonara" to the reporter, it was a bittersweet moment, signifying the shop's closing.

The heavy emotional context behind sayonara is what makes it a phrase reserved for special circumstances.